Robert Stieglitz regained the WBO super middleweight title by stopping defending champion Arthur Abraham after three rounds at a sold-out GTEC Arena in Magdeburg, Germany. The fight was telecast live on EPIX Sports.

Stieglitz had said for months that Abraham, who defeated him by unanimous decision last August, was only borrowing the WBO belt.

Most pundits favored Abraham.

Stieglitz (45-3, 24 KOs) was in control from the opening bell. He backed the defending champion into the ropes and lets his hands go. Abraham (36-4, 28 KOs) covered up effectively, but didn’t fire back. He seemed surprised at Stieglitz’s fast start. He attempted to a throw a few hooks, but was smothered by Stieglitz’s consistent attack.

Round two was more of the same. Stieglitz, 31, was the much more active fighter. His volume of punches had Abraham constantly on the defensive. Referee Mike Ortega warned Stieglitz for using his head in round two. Abraham finally opened up near the end of the stanza. He landed a combination that had no effect on Stieglitz. By the end of the round Abraham’s left eye was closing rapidly.

In round three, Stieglitz continued to force the action. A three-punch combination landed. Abraham had no answers for the aggressive tactics of Stieglitz. His left eye was now completely shut. His face showed pain and confusion. He grabbed and was deducted a point for hitting behind the head.

Abraham,33, could sense his title slipping away. Before the start of the start of the fourth round, the ringside doctor and his cornermen agreed that the bout should be stopped.

The stoppage was the first in Abraham’s 10-year career

Stieglitz has many options to choose from. He could fight impressive youngster George Groves - or grant Abraham a rematch.